TA Dina

Quote: Originally Posted by Steffi234 I am looking at either the Colonial or Elegance... on their website I couldn't find prices yet for rooms at the Elegance. Is it a huge price difference between that and the Colonial? That's odd. Prices are definately out for next year. I've been getting prices a bit less at Elegance (vs Colonial) due to some "Grand Opening" specials our tour operators are offereing.

Bermuda is an expensive island. And I agree, cruising is the best value as it's "almost" all-inclusive. And on many itineraries you stay docked so it's like you're just using the ship as your hotel anyway. As far as 9 Beaches, it prices good but just research well. It's not a resort for everyone. And it is nothing like Tahiti (which I know wasn't mentioned here but is a common misconception I get asked about all the time).

First my friendly warning girls (& guys)....please be careful on that cruisecritic site. I cringe when my clients mention that they read things over there. Let's just say...don't believe everything you read! Now on to the issue at hand here...your request has to be approved by the ship. I've never had a problem doing this for my groups. I don't know who you're dealing with (TA or RCCL direct), but we're a Top Account with RCCL and like I said, have never had a problem. Of course it's based upon availability and up to the ship in the end but it's doable. More than 20 ppl though and you'll probably have a set menu. And they may not move tables around for you either. Unless you're buying the venue out, they need to keep the atmosphere consistent for the other diners. The knife thing..don't know what to tell you. Rules are rules. In this day and age you just have to do what they say you have to do. Hope that helps.

The course description doesn't give you any more to go on? That's really vauge. I don't know what travel schools go for these days but that does seem like a lot of money to prepare for the TAP test. And as far as learning the GDS systems (that's what Sabre etc are), you really can't pick just one. Well I mean you can, but if you learn Apollo and end up at an agency that works on Worldspan, it's kinda the equivilant of taking a class in Italian so that you can speak Spanish. If you know where you'll be interning I'd find out what system they work on first. At least then if you decide to take this course you'll get more out of it. But for the record you can definately learn a GDS on the job. Another thing to think of is what type of clientele you have and what type of agency you'll be working for. If you mention to an agency that you have high end luxury clients they'll probably be all over you to come work with them ($$). But if they don't specialize or sell the products that your clients want you're doing everyone a disservice (most of all yourself). You want to align yourself with the right company. Check out The Travel Insititue and CLIA and see what they offer in the way of training.

Ask her to match the price. One thing to remember when you're shopping around is that things change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. I don't know if this was a group rate that you got or if they were just individual package rates, but lots of variables either way. Resorts are constantly having specials, changing specials etc. What's here one day might not be the next. You mention there was a 2 month gap in time. And lots can change in 2 months (again, depending upon how they quoted you originally). Which is why many of us TA's look like this most of the time.... Just ask your TA to match what you found and if it's something that can be done, they probably will. Remember tho that new specials might be for "new bookings only" so it might not apply to what you've got, but it's worth checking out.

The packages that I sell now include the departure tax in with the tickets. But that's packages. I've not checked for sure but I do believe it is included now with single airline tix too. I can't believe the airline wouldn't know. It's part of the darn fare when the come up with the price.

Check out Royal Caribbean's One Day Sale for this Friday 08-08-08! These prices apply to individual bookings as well as GROUPS! So if you're planning a Royal Wedding, there's no better time to start planning! Here's the link: http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/r..._888_Flyer.pdf

Hurry, don't miss out on NCL's "You Cruise, We'll Drive" Sales Event! You’d better step on it to take advantage of this great offer before it passes you by. Book before August 17 and you will get: • Great pricing on itineraries fleetwide* sailing October 1, 2008 to April 30, 2010 • Up to $400 on-board credit per stateroom • Up to a 3-category upgrade (but book early to get the best stateroom) Freestyle Cruising is now even better with an array of innovations including: • Totally new mouthwatering cuisine creations including lobster dishes every night • A complimentary glass of bubbly upon boarding • Upgraded linens, pillows and luxury bath amenities in every stateroom • Extended Kid’s Crew hours • Exciting new, ultra-hip entertainment options like Wii on a two-story screen PM me today to start planning your wedding, anniversary or romantic getaway cruise!!

Pukilani Falls is on the land where the owner of this company lives. One of the attractions is his own home (the hobbit house). Here's some comments I found when searching for info: Quote: We get asked about Pukalani Falls from time to time and we don't recommend the site nor can we use the site. Here's the deal from our point of view: The owner's are very, very nice, aloha filled people that we respect and wish no ill will towards. The owner built "Pukalani Falls" in the backyard of his own private residence. It is not, nor has ever been, a real natural Hawaiian waterfall. It's pretty but completely fake. The "Hobbit House" is very interesting looking from the outside but not a luxury mansion or private highend estate by any means but rather is located within a very basic/average residential area with lots of other small houses around. We have called and asked about using the site and they said at the time they do charge a site fee to use the falls and they do not permit outside companies in to prevent it from becoming to "commericial" which is completely there right to do. This means if you want to use the site you have to use them for your services. The feedback we've heard about the site has been mixed. However, we feel that if a person is going to travel all the way to Hawaii to get married by a Hawaiian waterfall that they might not want it to be next to a man made waterfall in some guys backyard. Again, the owners are nice and the site is pretty. To us, it comes down to do you want a real, natural watefall that's over 50ft tall in the heart of botonical garden or do you want a fake one in some guys backyard? It's up to you. Again, the owner's are very nice and the site is lovely. It's private because his lawn has a fence around it but it's fake. You decide. I don't have any info of this wedding planner's company, so my suggestion would just be to check everything out thoroughly before signing anything. I'm sure your wedding will be beautiful. You cannot go wrong with Oahu!

I just sent you an email.

Aloha Wedding Couples!! Will you be on Oahu the week of October 16-23, 2008?? If so, we’ve got a great opportunity for some EXCLUSIVE activities and excursions to make your days in paradise extra special. And the best part is, when you take part, you’ll be helping a GREAT cause too! Our agency, along with other “Best of the Best” agencies nationwide has spent the last year working closely with the Oahu Visitor‘s Bureau on their annual Travel Pink! Travel Oahu! Campaign. This event is a way for travelers, resorts and activity vendors on Oahu to raise money for the Hawaii affiliate of the Susan G Komen Foundation during the month of October. This year’s Race for the Cure is set in Waikiki for Sunday Oct 19th and we've put together a great itinerary of one of a kind, exclusive activities arranged for the days before and after the race to enhance your Hawaii vacation. From kayaking and surfing with the Pros, to historic tours of downtown Honolulu and the North Shore, to an afternoon in Chinatown with Chef Chai to our “Pink by the Sea” dolphin adventure, the afternoons are full of excitement and fun! And at night, you can choose to join us for our VIP, “pink carpet” showing at the new Waikiki Nei showroom or choose to relax and enjoy the Hawaiian music of Danny Couch at the Sheraton. This is just a sampling of what we’ve planned and each of these activities are ONLY available through our agencies. If you plan to be on island during these dates, let me know and I can get you a listing and description of each activity and the cost. A portion of all proceeds from these excursions will go directly to the Komen Foundation. And if you want to join us for the walk/race on Sunday, you can do that too! So don’t miss out on these unique opportunities if you will be on island this week. PM me if you want more details!

I've got a few florists on my supplier list in Oahu. Most were referred to me by a good friend who is the sales mgr at the Halekulani. So they're definately reputable. PM me with your email and I'll send you some names.

Quote: Originally Posted by pc42 Me too!!! Still in the planning stages though...anyone has suggestions? I'm looking at the Westin, Marriott and Hyatt. The Hyatt seems really expensive though - yikes! What about other Aruba brides? Any suggestions? Check out the Radisson too. Not as big as the Hyatt or Marriott, but a very nice resort.

Just chiming in here for a sec....it is not standard practice for any TA to cut their commissions to give you a better deal on a cruise. Yes there are some new TA's trolling cruisecritic offering to do that, but there are many cruise lines that do not even allow it. And there are many TA's that would be offended if even asked that question. Now that said, if you're planning a group, many TA's may have access to better fares than the cruise line can offer due to a variety of other reasons. And due to the complexity of contracts, deadlines etc, it's in your best interest to utilize an experienced TA for your group trip no matter what. Just do some smart shopping and you'll be fine. Be weary of those "great deals" b/c many times, what you see is not what you get.

I agree...spring is definately better weather-wise and crowd-wise. I've had some cruisers come back from Fall saillings complaining about choppy seas too. So just like Caribbean waters...it can be hit or miss at that time of year. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival have some nice itineraries. Some are 7days, some are 12 or longer. You really have to figure out what type of vacation you want though as each line has it's own feel to it. If you've never sailed Costa before I don't know that I would consider them for a first time cruise. JMO.

Quote: Originally Posted by JennyK Thought you guys might get a kick out of an email I got from the TA: Hi Jenny, You can either pay us and have your guest send checks to you personally or you can collect checks from your guests payable to Liberty. Which ever is easier for you, you will be the group leader and in charge of everything!!! Yahoo...Hopefully I will know more this afternoon!!! Explains alot. Although in her defense now, I'm sure that it is not HER doing...it's coming from her superiors. I would bet anyway....

Just jumping in here with my 2 cents (this thread is so aggrevating b/c I've dealt with those WC too and they are annoying). If at all possible, try not to do your wedding on the day of departure. One delay with security, or customs clearing the ship, and your whole schedule is screwed up (as it sounds like some of you have experienced). I know it's easiest especially when not all of the guests might be able to sail with you, but it's risky. Always have a Plan B, just to be safe. Also consider your "in port" weddings and the time of year. If you're planning a wedding during hurricane season in the Caribbean, chances are high a port could be missed due to a storm. And then you're stuck again. Find out for sure what the backup plan is should that happen. If the ship is doing the wedding, they'll have something for you. But if you're getting married by a WC on island, you might be out of luck. And lastly, my best advice is to use a TA to plan the trip. At the very least they can be copied on communication with these cruise line WC, and they should be stepping up for you if needed. Personally if one of my brides ever had this problem, I'd skip the WC superiors and would be knocking on the cruise line's President's door. If they want me to continue to sell their weddings, they WILL take care of my brides. Any TA should be able (and willing) to do the same. Ok, enough of my rant. Sorry to hijack!

The resorts have plenty of activities to keep you busy for however long you are there. I would check out all the "included" stuff before purchasing outside tours from anyone. And if you do go outside, my professional advice is to purchase a tour from a company like Scubacaribe or others located in your hotels. Apple Vacations has reps at almost every hotel and their mgmt company has tours everywhere (whether you booked your trip with Apple or not). I do not ever advise my clients to go wandering out into the towns, or to the local bars on their own. But that's just me. The locals will make their way into the bars etc that the resorts have (many have little "main streets" that have all their shops/bars on it). Just stick with them and you'll have a blast and be fine. My personal opinion as well as feedback I get from every client I send there, is don't waste your money on the tours to Santo Domingo or other town for thier sites. It's a looooong uncomfortable ride, it's expensive, and not really all that much to see. But again, just my opinion from the gazillion times I've been and hunderds of clients I've sent there.

I emailed the resort's GM last night on behalf of some of my Dream brides and he replied that as long as PS pays for the day-pass they are allowed on property to shoot weddings.

Airfare is definately the biggest factor in the price differences you'll find. It really depends on what is in your area going to each location. Both areas have several large chain resorts and pretty much all of them offer a good value for what you'll pay. It really depends on what you're looking for for your group. One thing about DR is that all the resorts are all inclusive and there really is nothing outside the resort areas to explore or spend money on. The resorts offer enough activities/attractions to keep guests busy. Unlike RM that has alot more in the way of tours, dining etc outside the walls of the resorts.

As many of you know I was in Hawaii the last few weeks doing some training and hotel inspections. While I was there I found out some interesting news that I think might be relevant to share here. There has been an ongoing battle over vacation rentals on all of the islands for quite a while. The neighborhoods are very upset over having homes on their streets or condos in their buildings rented on a weekly basis. It's obviously not stopped the rentals from happening however the fight is definately escalating. There are some homes that were grandfathered in years ago and are allowed to continue renting. Most however, are illegal rentals. And the neighbors are p*ssed!! There are alot of homes/condos for rent all over the internet right now. And some are a good value. However you MUST be careful about who you're renting from. I've heard horror stories about owners who list their properties with several different mgmt companies resulting in double/triple bookings. People show up to check in only to find another group in their unit. I've seen neighbors call the police and literally chase tourists from their streets. We had the police actually force us to leave one neighborhood and we were only touring homes that rent legitimately. They heard we were travel agents and didn't even want us on their street. And if you do find a company that rents something to you, read the fine print carefully. The one company I work with has a VERY strict contract. NO visitors to your unit without approval. NO parties. NO locals visiting. So basically meaning if you're there and your family is at the resort down the road....NO they cannot come to your place for a family dinner one night. The legit mgmt companies will have the contact info of the neighbors so if something goes wrong, the neighbors will call them, and they will show up at your door, and they will evict you on the spot. Or charge your cc an enormous fee for breaking the contract rules. I know it sounds extreme but it is happening and it's happening on all the islands. So I thought it was worth sharing as it could save you some headaches as well as alot of money in the end. Be careful!

Quote: Originally Posted by Camille I'm trying to think of some "Can't Miss" things: The Waimea Canyon is AWESOME! I got really car sick driving up it, but it was really cool! I will have to look into the name of the Luau that we went to... it was family owned land and you went through a tour where they had each area of land that showed the history of Hawaii, and then they had the pig ceremony (of course!!) and after dinner the show was AWESOME! Was it the Smith family? They do the Fern Grotto cruise up the river as well. There is an ATV Tour to the movie locations that is really fun too.

This resort is one of my absolute favorites on the island. It's gorgeous. I've got a bunch of pics that I'll see if I can figure out how to post The beds are hard (to be blunt). Didn't cause me to lose sleep, but they are definately a "firm" firm. Seems to be a "riu thing" actually, regardless of where the resort is. And the kings are actually 2 queens pushed together. Not that they'll seperate as you sleep, but it's just something I always mention to my clients so they're aware. One nice thing with this resort is by staying here you have exchange priviledges at the other RIU's within the complex. You can have meals during the day at other resorts, but dinner only at your own. They have a little street where their "nightlife" is located. The club there is REALLY crazy when it gets late. Very fun. I didn't smell anything when I was there. But it's the caribbean, it's hot, its humid. So a bit of mustiness is to be expected I guess. Like I said tho, I didn't notice it. And remember, when they say "men must wear long pants for dinner", down there, they mean it.

What about one of the theaters onboard? Do they give you that choice? I've seen the setups for weddings in several different locations, and really the only ones I thought were kinda weird were in the discos. Mainly because most of them are themed so no matter how much tulle you hang up, there's still a disco ball over your head as you say I Do. All of the others I've seen have been nicely done. As far as the lounges or the theatre, they aren't bad. I know it's not a chapel, but I don't think I'd advise anyone to pay a bunch more $$ to avoid using a lounge area. Especially if you're on a newer ship.

I agree with becks 110%. Especially for reasons 1 & 2. Some cruise lines can still require them for boarding. And if they don't now but decide to change their policy a month before you're wedding, now guests are paying expedited processing fees IF they can get them at all. And if I only had a dollar for every passenger I've heard of that missed the boat on departure day and had to catch up to the ship afterwards It is good news, but still, best bet is to encourage they get them.